In the normal course of affairs, at least for the past 5 years, this week would find me soaking up the sun in Copenhagen: visiting friends, preparing for the reboot conference (in stasis this year), drinking good coffee and riding a bicycle.
It’s no exaggeration to say that my first visit to the city, for reboot 7, changed my life for the better: I met a host of people who I still call good friends, I saw Plazes demonstrated for the first time, I started to get more deeply involved in open source, and, perhaps most importantly, I started a journey toward seeing Europe as something everyday (albeit a rather more interesting and exotic everyday than I’m used to) – a place I could comfortably visit often, and perhaps relocate to.
Over the 5 years I went to reboot I gradually migrated from visiting for the conference, and happening to see friends, to visiting friends and happening to go to the conference. Who would have thought?
So yesterday Penny turned six years old without me (I was there when she turned four). And this week my Danish friends will celebrate Sankt Hans without me (perhaps we’ll have to light a bonfire in our Charlottetown back yard on June 23?).
And I’ll be forced to come up with my own paradigm-shifting ideas instead of letting reboot come up with them for me.
Comments
Lovely to hear another PEI resident with a love of Copenhagen.
I was born in Denmark and lived in Copenhagen until I was 6. We still go back to visit family (and take the kids to Tivoli gardens and the Louisianna museum) each year if at all possible.
We talked about moving back there instead of relocating to Prince Edward Island.
It’s still tempting ;)
Hi Peter,
I share your feelings, Reboot and the days around it have grown into a special time of the year. Taking a break from it is strange. Luckily all the connections built in CPH have a lasting impact on my daily work and interactions, as it is with you. During my birthday unconference Pedro flattered me by saying that the group of guests succeeded in creating the Reboot spirit. And maybe the idea we kicked around in e-mail this weekend may turn out to be a shift in its own way.
I was just in Copenhagen two weeks ago. I agree that it’s an extremely approachable city. I really enjoyed the week I spent there (I was actually across the bridge in Malmo, for EPiServer’s conference, but I visited Copenhagen 2-3 times during that week).
This week has felt strangely empty here as well and we will miss you around the bonfire tomorrow!
I must say- Denmark in June is not the same without you guys visiting.. come back soon ? Otherwise we will have to head over to PEI =)